little basis for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little basis for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is minimal or insufficient support or justification for a claim or argument. Example: "There is little basis for the assertion that the new policy will improve employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The loss of nine lives provides little basis for accolades.

The New York Times

Sometimes, there is little basis for these judgements.

The New Yorker

The evidence so far gives little basis for optimism.

The Guardian

There was little basis for trust on either side.

The New Yorker

Critics charge that cable companies have little basis for the added $10 to $15 monthly charges.

The New York Times - Tech

A consultant paediatrician told the jury there seemed little basis for such a conclusion.

The Guardian

Obviously, then, there is little basis for the belief that the gonads of any organism are shielded from chemicals.

The New Yorker

A preliminary glance at both gives little basis for a definitive choice of one over the other.

The New York Times - Books

The electorate was left, in most cases, with little basis for a decision beyond ethnic and religious ties.

The New Yorker

But these groups of professionals are often worlds apart and have little basis for mutual understanding, communication, and experimentation.

MIT Technology Review

But since there was no record of the works' archaeological origins, the governments had little basis for making a claim.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "little basis for" to express skepticism or disagreement when evaluating claims or arguments. It's suitable in academic papers, news articles, and professional reports to maintain a critical and objective tone.

Common error

Avoid using "little basis for" when you mean there is absolutely no foundation. "Little" implies some minimal support, while "no basis for" indicates a complete absence of support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little basis for" functions as a prepositional phrase used to express a lack of justification, reason, or evidence for a particular claim, belief, or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that support is minimal or insufficient.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "little basis for" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express a lack of strong support for a claim or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While interchangeable with alternatives like "scant justification for" or "weak foundation for", it is important to remember that "little basis for" implies some minimal support, distinguishing it from "no basis for". Using this phrase effectively involves understanding its nuanced meaning and considering the context in which it is employed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weak foundation for

Directly replaces "basis" with "foundation", emphasizing the lack of a strong underlying support.

limited justification for

Focuses on the constraint in the rationale or reason, with more emphasis on limitations.

scant justification for

Emphasizes the minimal amount of justification available, with a slight shift in focus from a foundation to an explicit justification.

insufficient reason for

Highlights that the reason presented does not suffice to justify the action or belief.

inadequate support for

Shifts the focus to the lack of sufficient support, whether factual or logical.

tenuous grounds for

Highlights the weakness or flimsiness of the grounds supporting a claim or belief.

meager rationale for

Emphasizes the deficiency or scarcity in the provided rationale or explanation.

dubious grounds for

Suggests the reasons are questionable, doubtful, or potentially unreliable.

flimsy pretext for

Suggests the reason is not only weak but also potentially misleading or deceptive.

poor excuse for

Implies the provided reason is not only weak but also unacceptable or unconvincing.

FAQs

How can I use "little basis for" in a sentence?

You can use "little basis for" to express a lack of strong evidence or justification for a claim. For example, "There is "little basis for" the claim that this policy will improve productivity".

What can I say instead of "little basis for"?

You can use alternatives like "scant justification for", "weak foundation for", or "limited justification for" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "little basis for" and "no basis for"?

"Little basis for" suggests a minimal amount of supporting evidence, while "no basis for" indicates a complete lack of supporting evidence. The choice depends on the degree of absence you want to convey.

Is it better to use "little basis for" or "slim basis for"?

Both "little basis for" and "slim basis for" are acceptable. "Little" is more common, while "slim" can emphasize the slightness or tenuousness of the basis.